May 1999

The Cincinnati Enquirer recently published your editorial opposing HB 165
(right-to-carry concealed weapons).
I was pleased to see this because I did not know why the Ohio State Highway
Patrol would oppose HB 165.
You outlined three reasons. I have addressed each:

1) Citing “road rage” you asked, “Do we really want to increase
the number of loaded guns in vehicles?”
This question alludes to the “wild west” concern.
This concern is without merit. If I remember correctly, only about one percent
of those eligible to obtain a permit to carry concealed weapons actually do so.
Therefore, the increase in the number of loaded guns in vehicles will not
substantially increase. Furthermore, to my knowledge, there has never been an
illegal shooting due to “road rage” or a “wild west”
incident anywhere in the country by an individual legally carrying a concealed
weapon.

2) You stated, “Concealment does not equate to deterrence.” Although I
agree with your bank guard example, it is not a valid analogy. FBI crime
statistics are very clear on this issue. Violent crime has dropped substantially
in every state that has enacted concealed carry legislation. Criminals do not
know who is armed and who isn’t. Many therefore, turn to non-violent crime.
There are numerous examples of citizens fighting back. And a reduction in
the crime rate immediately followed.

3) You stated that HB 165 requires an inadequate training course. Okay, I’ll
give you the benefit of the doubt on that issue. I hope that you get involved in
designing an appropriate training course for us non-professionals.
You also pointed out the unfortunate fact that some law enforcement officers are
killed with their own weapons taken by assailants. I agree that this is a
danger. However, being unarmed during an attack is a much greater danger. Again,
the statistics are clear that an armed citizen is able to protect himself, his
family, and even innocent strangers better than an unarmed citizen.

I intend no disrespect sir, but your above arguments don’t hold water.
Please don’t get me wrong Colonel Marshall. I support the Ohio State Patrol. If
your fine organization needs additional weapons, equipment, facilities, or
personnel, in order to fight violent crime, please let me know. I will gladly
ask my state legislator (Sam Bateman) to initiate funding to get you what you
need.
Also, I can back up all of my above arguments with statistics and specific
examples. I did not include them here simply because I’m trying to understand
why we are on opposite sides of this important issue.
In what way could HB 165 be amended in order to garner your support?
I sincerely hope that your response to this letter will lead to a solution that
will be acceptable to the Ohio State Patrol, the legislature, and to Governor
Taft.
Thank you for giving this issue your consideration.

Steven Abrams drove his car through a California playground Monday (May 3, 1999) killing two children. He reportedly stated, “I was going to execute those children because they were innocent.”

Frankly, I hope that he gets executed after due process of law. However, it seems that his desire to “execute innocent children” could have been carried out much more efficiently if he had been an abortionist. Federal marshals would have protected him while he carried out his evil plot for profit.